Trustee Tip: Advocacy is a Key Responsibility of Trustees
Trustees have been influential in shaping Iowa community college policy, often accrediting their vision and relationships with their elected officials for milestone legislation. As we look at 60 Years of Impact this year, there are fingerprints of Trustees on every single success. The Trustee Handbook provides an overview of:
How Statewide Legislative Priorities Are Developed (Page 16)
How Trustees Can Get Involved in Advocacy (Page 17)
Advocacy Milestones and Major Accomplishments (Pages 19)
We appreciate the special and unique approach each and every Trustee has to building and maintaining relationships with their area’s legislators. Our Director of Government Relations Ryan Roberts is available for any questions or help, as we hope to keep Trustees up to date on legislative activity and forecasts. He can be reached at rroberts@ccforiowa.org.
Measuring Success: Results from the 2025 Survey of Community College Outcomes
In 2025, the Survey of Community College Outcomes (SCCO) collected data on 189 community and technical colleges, including 121 schools in the Fifth District. Iowa was the first state in the nation to commit to enthusiastically measure and provide the recorded data needed to national comparisons of student progress, completion, and equity across peer institutions, allowing colleges to understand their performance in context and identify opportunities for improvement. This year’s report shows a stronger understanding of community college student journeys and important benchmarks for success. Read the report here.
Register for the Data in Action Series’ Spring Sessions + Topics
Data in Action Series
First session done: see the recording and slides
We launched the first official session of our Data In Action Series with Kelly Friesleben from the Iowa Department of Education, who focused on "Using Data to Improve Student Success." We wrapped the session by taking a closer look at Iowa Valley Community College District's progress in leveraging student information systems and early alert data to better understand student needs and implement targeted strategies that support student achievement. Find the webinar recording and slides here.
Register now for future sessions
The initial design of this series is to host monthly webinars throughout the spring. Upcoming dates, times, and topics are:
These topics may be helpful to several departments or positions on each campus. All who are interested are encouraged to attend as we embrace data at every level! Read each session’s description here.
Iowa Chapter of the Association of Physical Plant Administrators' 2026 Spring Conference to be held April 14-15 in Des Moines
Join IAAPPA and other education facilities professionals from across Iowa to discuss, collaborate, and learn about the newest challenges and opportunities facing Iowa’s educational institutions today. This conference is being held in Des Moines’ East Village at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Des Moines Downtown. Register here.
Tools: Quick Clicks for Quick Information
Here are links to our most in-demand resources: